When New Becomes Old

The cabin in the woods had been abandoned for years, but one night, a candle burned in the window. Of course, my attention was elsewhere, searching the shadows between the trees, but Tommy’s hoarse whisper, urgent and rushed, made me jump.

“Ryan! Get over here!” He jerked his hand in a circular motion to reinforce his point.

I sighed and shuffled to his side.

Tommy was older than me by three years and much taller. Now eighteen, he kept telling me he was an adult and could tell me what to do. He pointed. “Look.”

Old Milton’s cabin lay straight ahead, nestled past a batch of giant oak trees. Spanish moss covered their gnarled limbs, and the breeze blew on their twisted strands. No one dared to come close to this place. Tales of horrible creatures kept sane people away.

Yet there it was – a lit candle. Evidence that some fool had gone inside. The flame flickered. Is that the wind? Or did someone move it?

We watched behind the cover of a batch of prickly shrubs and crouched close to the ground. Sweat trickled down my forehead to sting my eyes. I rubbed them.

“Quit twitching!” Tommy’s harsh whisper irked me. “You’re always so antsy.”

“Well, I’m hot, and this is stupid. We gotta get home before Mom and Dad do.” I glared at my brother. “And it’s gonna rain soon.”

“Which is why we took this shortcut. But I’ve never seen a light before.” He gripped my shoulder with his right hand. “Wait. It’s gone.”

Sure enough, darkness had reclaimed the cabin. “Yeah. Well, no reason to stay, right?”

“But aren’t you curious?”

“Uh uh. I’m not setting foot in a freaky cabin. No way.”

Tommy scrunched his face. His lips pinched into a tight frown. “Are you a coward?”

I shook my head. He always goats me.

“Then let’s check it out.” He moved forward, resolute in whatever stupid notion drove him to take action.

My feet didn’t budge. If he wants to play hero, fine.

Tommy approached the entrance, and my heart pounded. Years of neglect had worn down the front door, which hung sideways on a rusty hinge. Chunks of paint lay in pieces on the sagging porch. Twisted vines covered the walls in profusion. He climbed the steps, which creaked in protest.

“Hello?” he said. “Is anyone there?”

I wanted to scream. The first rule of any horror movie is don’t announce yourself!

Of course, he kept going. “I’m not armed, okay?”

Great. Let the intruder know you’re easy prey.

Tommy went inside.

I clutched my cross necklace and waited. Time froze. What’s taking so long? Heck, I don’t hear anything.

A crow squawked right above my head, and I jerked.

Crap. What’s he doing? No sound came from the cabin. Nothing. How is that possible? Shouldn’t I hear a squeaky board or something?

The candlelight popped into view again, as mysterious as before. Huh. It’s back. The back of my neck tingled. Is that Tommy or…? A lump clogged my throat. I swallowed hard.

Thunder rumbled in the distance, adding anxiety to my frustration. The wind increased, causing the trees to sway, and a splash of water hit me square on the cheek.

Yeah. Can’t dally any longer. I ran toward the cabin and stopped just outside the open door. “Tommy! We have to go.” An eternity crawled by while I fidgeted like a nervous twit, unsure what to do. Should I go in after him?

The flickering flame bobbed a short distance away from where I stood, yet I couldn’t see who held it. “Okay, bro, this isn’t funny. C’mon. A storm’s brewing.” Not a peep. The light moved away.

Several drops smacked me on the head and shoulders, and a sudden flash of lightning followed by the instant crack of thunder shook me to the core. Dang! I shivered despite the heat. Okay. I either get pelted or take shelter in this dump.

The heavens made my decision for me. A deluge hit, full of fury and hail. Tiny ice pellets pounded my skin, pinging me into submission. I sucked in my breath and ran inside the cabin.

At first, nothing happened. I stood dripping wet and clutching myself in a tight hug, watching as the furious storm churned outside. Then came the soft tap on my elbow. A bug? I attempted to slap it, but my world twisted as a whirlwind of blackest black embraced me. All sound faded to where only my heartbeat thrummed in my ears.

I woke to find myself lying on the floor in a crumpled heap.

Out of the silence came a giggle. “Seems you’ve survived my touch.” A young girl floated before me. She grasped the lit candle in her hand. “Guess the other one filled me up.”

A twitch of my fingers sent a jolt of pain through my body. “Who are you?”

“Perhaps what I am is the better question,” she said. “Not that I’d reveal such secrets to a mere mortal. Our kind lives in the shadows, hunting humans when needed.” She stroked my hair. “And you, my dear, were quite delicious.” A strand of white dangled from her grasp.

Hunting humans? My eyes couldn’t focus. Her blurred face resembled a hawk with giant pupils, a thin nose, and a pointed chin. When she spread her ruby lips into a grin, all I could see were sharp teeth.

“Silly boy. Don’t bother to squint. Old people have cataracts.”

“Cataracts?”

“Yes. Well, time to fly.” Butterfly wings fluttered behind her back.

I blinked hard. “Are you… a fairy?”

Her laughter surprised me. “Humans gave us that name, but it’s not what we are.” She placed the candle beside me. “When the wax melts down, you won’t remember anything. Its magic will erase the knowledge of this conversation from your feeble mind.” The girl began to rise.

“Wait. Please.” I tried to push myself up, but the throbbing in my bones held me down. “What have you done to me?”

“Ah, so you sense you’re not yourself?” Her tone mocked me.

“Stop speaking in riddles!” My head pounded. “Why does everything hurt?”

The fairy-thing wiggled her hips and fluttered her wings. “I stole your youth, but at least you’re still alive.”

“And what about Tommy?” Fear gripped my chest into a vise.

“Oh, was he your friend? Pity. He didn’t survive.” She waved with a flicker. “Toodles, love.” A swirl of sparkling dust spun around her form until she disappeared.

The rain banged on the roof with a rhythmic beat that matched my racing pulse. I moved my hand to touch my face. What I felt removed any doubt that what she’d said was true. Wrinkled skin hung from my jaw. My neck had folds of flesh. As I rolled over, every ounce of my once young body ached.

Then I saw my brother or what was left of him. He lay nearby, and only the shirt and pants confirmed his identity. His remains resembled a mummy with parchment-like skin that clung to a skeleton frame. As I wept, a wicked thought occurred to me. Perhaps he got off easy. I’m stuck in an old man’s shell with no way to warn others of the fairy’s curse.

Unless…

I lashed out at the damn candle with what little strength remained. It fell and rolled. The fire sparked and fizzled.

I’ll tell them what happened when I’m found. Assuming they look for us here. And maybe, just maybe, whatever's been done can be undone.

Sleep claimed me, and I dreamed of being myself again.